Tire condition indicator



y 18, 1937- c. A. PHILLIPS 2,081,064

- TIRE CONDITION INDICATOR Filed March 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l lnvenlor M g A Hamel);

Man,-

May 18, 1937.

C. A. PHILLIPS TIRE CONDITION INDICATOR Filed March 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mama By @0109 M g A'Homep;

Patented 'May 18, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT our-"ms scum.

. This invention relates to new and useful improvements in the art of electrical signalling and more particularly to a pneumatic wheel deflation indicator.

vide a signal for land vehicles which in operation will indicate to the operator of the vehicle the deflated condition of any one of its vehicl vwheels. 'Another important object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic wheel deflation indicator which will be automatic in operation and "which can be conveniently installed on conventional wheel constructions. k l5 These and various other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of a pneumatic wheel showing the switch means installed thereon and the electrical means for effecting a signal. Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectionalview taken tiaily on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the deflation responsive means of the switch;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 ofl 'igso 1'8 3; I L

' Figure 5 is a side elevational view of 'the plunger rod barrel.

figure 6 represents a perspective view of the Referring to the" drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral] represents a rim of a pneumatic wheel. while numeral 8 is the casing held by the I. In the casing 8 is the usual pneumatic tube 1'.

4 Referring to Figured, it can be seen that numeral I represents the hub structure of the wheel, through the rear wheel a of which is dis posed the tube l, projecting in the direction of the annulus I. which is secured'to the axle ll.

45 Circumferentially disposed around this annulus II is the conductor ring ll ipsulated from the annuluaby the insulation II. The tube I is provided with 'a threaded portion II and lamb nuts II on the threaded portion ll of tube I at op- 50 posite sides of the hub plate it serves to retain this tube I in th l'igurez. e v

As is seen in Figure 4, the tube l is'provided with short longitudinally extending slots lO-il so at diametrically opposite side portions thereof An important object of -the invention is to proe definite poaitionshown in through which project the guide lugs iF-il on the contact rod III which is slidably disposed in the tube 0.

A wing member 2i projects laterally from the 'tube 8 and by a pivot pin 22 supports the bell crank 23, one leg of which projects throughthe additional slot 24 in the tube 8 to engage against the outboard end of the contact plunger II. A coiled extensible spring 25 has one end connected to the lug l9 and the other end to the outboard end of the tube 9 for holding the contact plunger 20 disposed away from the conductor ring I! and against the last mentioned end of the bellcrank 23.

The opposite end of the bell crank 23 extends into the slot 28 at the hub end of the elongated rod 21 which is slidably disposed throu h the barrel 28 and through an opening 28 in the tube 9.

: To prevent rotation of the rod 21, the rod is provided with a cross pin III which extends through longitudinal slots 3! in the barrel II. The barrel 2! is provided with a threaded portion "b on which is a nut 32. Interposcd between this nut 32 and the end portion ofthe cross pin it is a coiled compressible spring a which serves to urge the rod 21 in a 'direction toward the pneumatic tube TI. The pneumatic tube end portion of the barrel It is provided with a threaded portion 34 which threads into an opening in the rim 5. The pneumatic tube end of the rod 2] is provided with a disk like head SI which bears against the pneumatic tube I as is clearly shown in Figure 2.

Now referring to Figure 1, it can be seen that numeral 38 represents the source of current from which the lead 31 extends to a manual switch It.

From this switch-38 a conductor It extends to connect to the ring I! and in this conductor line 3! is the signal light III which is preferably l cated adjacent the drivers seat As a matter of fact, there may be four of these signal lights, one for each of the wheels of a four-wheeledvehicle.

It can now be seen, that normally, the contact plunger 20 is held away from the conductor ring if by the pressure of the air in the inner tube I. However, when this tube becomes deflated to a dangerous degree, the spring 83 will urge the rod I'l andthediskli intothecasingiandthiswill. resultinarockingofthebellcrankll anda resulting urge of the contact plunger It inboardly until it engages the conductor ring it. This grounds the signal circuitshown in Figure l and results in the ener'gisation of the signal lamp ll.

wane the foregoing specification sets forth are invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as 5 claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A pneumatic wheel switch comprising a conductor ring, means for attaching the conductor ring to a wheel axle, a plunger rod, spring means for urging the plunger rod against an inflated pneumatic tube, a movable contactor movable for engagement with the conductor ring, means consisting of a bell crank pivotally mounted and having one end engaging the movable contactor and the other end engaged with the said plunger, said plunger being provided with a slot therein for receiving the last mentioned end of the bell crank, spring means for retaining the movable contactor away from the conductor ring, a tubular guide for the movable contactor, said tubular guide being provided with slots therein, and guide members extending from the movable contactor and being ridable in the said slot. 2. A pneumatic wheel switch comprising a conductor ring, means for securing said ring to a wheel axle, a T-shaped conduit, the free end of the longer arm of said conduit terminating adjacent the inner side of a pneumatic tube and being secured to the wheel, a rod slidable in the longer arm having one end terminating adjacent the inner surface of the tire and the other end projecting through a slot in the side of the shorter arm of the T-shaped conduit and being provided with a longitudinally extending slot, resilient means normally urging said rod into pressured contact with the inner tube, a plunger siidable in the shorter conduit arm, the free end thereof projecting beyond said conduit for cooperation with said ring, the sides of said shorter conduit arm having oppositely disposed slots therein, guide lugs on the plunger slidable in said slot, resilient means normally urging said plunger inwardly, a laterally extending support on the shorter conduit arm, a bell crank pivoted thereon, one arm of 'the bell crank extending through a slot in the shorter conduit and cooperating with,

the inner end of the plunger for urging the plunger outwardly, the other arm of the bell crank extending through the slot in the projected end of the rod.

CHARLIE A. PHILI.JPB. 

